When to stop buying presents for friends children Post Reply

[waltzer]

Could anyone help me navigate this now super expensive activity. Way back when when close friends started having children I started buying Christmas and birthday gifts. All well and good when they got their joy from transfers and pencil sets but sixteen years on the gift list has grown substantially and the cost of the gifts along with it.

I was wondering what others do about friends children and gifts and if there is a good time to stop buying that won't cause offence which is obviously the last thing that I want to do.

[egc1973]

well , tell them you want to take them all to a cinema evening out as a Christmas present and that´s it !

I wouldnt gift ipads or any sort of electronic items or expensive clothes, that´s for relatives not for friends.

I have 4 nephews and my sister understands I cant pay for all their whims .
For my friend's children I have given a good gift when they were born and that´s it.
I cant pay yearly for gifts for every single children´s friend as each have got 2 and that would be 20 gifts 

Perhaps age "sweet 15" you stop doing that and take them to the cinema ?
think of an activity you like to enjoy and do together with them ?
take them to the mini-golf in Battersea park ? 
Winter wonderland and one hotdog for each ?
this will make a good memory , the gift will be donated in a few years time but the experience will be memorable

regards


 

[rubyonrails]

I would suggest that you stop at 16 or 18, both are 'main' birthdays and mark the move on to a new stage of school or life and it seems a good point to jump off. If it is something that you do along with other friends then maybe agree a milestone together.  

[NoodleFan]

For godchildren etc we stopped at 18 but for the kids of other friends I had a conversation around 12/13 (basically when they become a nightmare to buy for) and my friends were just as grateful not to have to buy for my kids. If you turn up with the odd thing randomly when you see them that’s nicer really.

[roberthoefer]

I would suggest stopping at 16 or 18. These are 'main' birthdays and it seems like a timely place to leap off.
 

[sabnsy]

I would suggest stopping at 16 or 18. These are 'main' birthdays and it seems like a timely place to leap off.geometry dash subzero

Number 16 is perfect!